The Passion of Our Hearts

 The heart is the place of ultimate passion and affection.

Our chief treasure is determined by what we desire above all else. It is the object of our highest affection and the thing we set our hearts on pursuing most. It drives us, identifies us, and is the spring of water that fills all of our thirsts and desires.

For Christians, this treasure is the person of Jesus Christ. He gives us true meaning and ultimate satisfaction, and we are to focus on Him in all that we do. Jesus is the driving ambition of our hearts’ pursuits.

Because the heart determines who we are and what we value, it must be our first priority in the fight of faith. It must be undivided under Jesus’ Lordship in all aspects of our lives.

The daily fight to keep Jesus supreme in our hearts is urgent.

The victories, successes, and God-honoring choices of yesterday have nothing to do with our fight today. Every morning presents a new fight against a real enemy, Satan, who wants to destroy or neutralize our impact on this world for Christ’s sake and glory.

Often people share with me the things they’re struggling with in their Christian walk. I typically respond with, “Praise God that you understand and are aware of the tension that fights for your heart. You want Jesus to win, and you are in a great place.”

A Christian who doesn’t have a tension between the flesh and the Spirit is a Christian who is in trouble. 

So let’s get personal with a few points:

• Your fight is daily. Yesterday’s victories and defeats have nothing to do with today’s fight. Confess your shortcomings and remember that they are covered in the blood of Christ’s forgiveness.
• God’s mercies are new every day (Lamentations 3).
• His grace is sufficient for today (2 Corinthians 12).
• His presence is available at this moment (Matthew 28).

With these promises, we can set our minds and hearts to pursue the things above and make choices by faith, not sight. This attitude grows us toward the goal of doing all things in the name of the Lord Jesus, our greatest passion and chief treasure.

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